Hi Everyone,
As you all know Scottish Power have a plan in place to reduce the amount of water that is released in compensation flow down the River Doon (Ness Glen) Friday is the last day we can have any real say in this decision. If you'd like to support the fight against the proposals please send an email to registryeastkilbride@sepa.org.uk So far they have not had many replies and that just looks like we don't care. Below is an email that has been drafted outlining the Issues that stack against the proposals. Please feel free to cut and paste it. Please take a few minutes to save our river. Thank you.

Dear Sir/Madam

Objections to the application from Iberdrola/Scottish Power for a reduction in the flow of water down the River Doon resulting in an increase in flow in the Kirkcudbrightshire River Dee.

Iberdrola has applied to reduce the flow of water down the Doon from the current compensation figure of 45 mgd to 36 mgd.
The Doon is the finest river in the west of Scotland with the best ten year average catch. Anglers come from far and wide to fish the river, from which Ayrshire derives significant economic and social benefit.
Reducing the flow to 36 mgd will destroy the Doon as an outstanding salmon river. In addition to the proposed reduction to 36 mgd, variable flows are seen as a possible additional call on precious river water, thus lowering the river further in summer.
Iberdrola is not prepared to countenance any loss of renewable energy production from the Galloway Hydro Scheme despite the environmental damage the company's actions will produce.
Is it worth sacrificing the River Doon, an ecological hotspot and a marvellous asset for Ayrshire, for the sake of the electricity that could be produced by one wind turbine?
Iberdrola already takes two thirds of the water from Loch Doon - the greatest loss of water from any river system in Scotland. Now the company wishes to take more.
Iberdrola is promoting not green, but brown energy. Reduced flow of water down the Doon will result in increased concentrations of farm effluent and human sewage in the river.
Ayr beach, the most popular bathing beach in Scotland, has already suffered water quality failures including during the current year. One can only speculate on the impact of a River Doon discharging increased pollutants into an already troubled environmental area.
The application sits alongside an ecological report of little credibility. There is no supporting data or evidence. Further, there is much unattributed comment and unsubstantiated opinion.
The report states that reduced water in the Doon will be beneficial for salmon, brown trout, and lamprey populations and also result in increased juvenile salmonid habitat. At the same time, it says that increased water flow in the Dee will be beneficial for salmon, brown trout and lamprey populations and also result in increased juvenile salmonid habitat. How can decreased water in the Doon have exactly the same effect as increased water in the Dee. Have we missed something here?
At 9.7.2, it is stated that "there are no obstacles that would become impassable (for migratory fish) for more than short periods in the summer". Where is the supporting evidence? The Doon has a large number of weirs, none of which have fish passes. Reduced flow would greatly limit the upstream movement of fish, leading to increased poaching, stress and predation.
Iberdrola claim that the Doon has an unnaturally high flow during periods of low rainfall. This ignores the fact that for three quarters of the time, the river flow is unnaturally low. The compensation flow is there to mitigate against the enormous loss of water from the river. The proposal from Iberdrola will mean that for 88% (Q88) of the time, the river will run at lower levels than would normally occur.
Compared to all other rivers in the south west of Scotland, the Doon is an ecological gem with populations of rare and protected species such as freshwater pearl mussels, sea lampreys, salmon, otters, kingfishers and saucer bugs. Suggestions that reducing the flow of water down the river will improve its ecological status is patent nonsense. As far as the Doon's iconic population of freshwater pearl mussels is concerned, the report shows a total lack of concern for this species, acknowledging that increased pollution in lower water levels would kill it off.

Done. Never got on the river when I was in Newton Stewart due to darkness issues after work- should've used a headtorch really- but it would be a shame to lose one of the few year-round rivers we have.

I got that email yesterday telling me Friday was the deadline. None of the faff matters. What really matters is that people, kayakers, walkers and even fisherfolk email Sepa to object. It'll take you 2 minutes. Go on.

Today is the last day to send in your objections. Please take a minute to cut and paste an email together to try and stop this tyrant of a power company bulldozing there money making desires all over this lovely river. It'll take you 2 minutes. Today is the day to make that difference. Thank you everyone so much for taking the time.

SwamP wrote:Out of interest is this decision anything to do with the petition and great efforts of the public?

I heard an interview with the chief exec of East Ayrshire who claimed it was due in no small part to the economic report from both Ayrshire's. The report focused on 40 jobs that come from fishing, and these would be lost if the flow was reduced. So I suppose on this occasion we were both on the same side for different reasons but mutually benefit from the increased flow.